Pretty funny that many of these American "tiny homes" are just regular sized houses elsewhere in the world. How much room does one really need? You need only one bathroom on each floor and you don't need more than one extra bed room, if that.
Easy. You have a yard where you can sit and enjoy the sun, even if it's small. You don't share walls (and ceilings!) with loud neighbors. You don't need to walk far to reach your car. You're living on two floors meaning the upper floor is warmer during winter (significantly in cold climates).
nice choice of words....lol Anyhow, Tiny homes are a gimmick. There are not that many people who want to live in a tool shed. They were interesting to read about this year, but I predict that they'll fade away in 2017. They won't solve homelessness either. The homeless need a job or mental health counseling. Then they won't need cities to provide them with shelter.
It won't solve homelessness but it's definitely not a fad. I built a "tool shed" house some years ago to be used as a cabin and it's actually very cozy. In colder climates you save on heating, in warmer climates you really don't need many rooms because you can stay outside a lot of the time.
The US is not based on a caring for " the less well off " philosophy. The attitude seems to blame them for being lazy and useless. In Europe there are state funded homes for the disadvantaged. In the UK we have long had Council houses which are kept in good repair at the public's expense, at a modest rent. Caring for the people at the bottom of the heap has averted left wing revolutions that uncaring societies in France, Russia etc. have suffered.
The U.S. has the same policies, you just have not heard about them. We have public housing for those that cannot provide for themselves. And if housing is not available we have something called Section 8 that allows the govt to pay for your rent and utilities. But you still get Free utilities, Free medical care, free public education, free cell phones and debit cards that allow them to buy x dollars of food a month. And if you are an orphan or a widow/widower you still get extra money from Social Security. And while you are getting all the freebies from the govt, you can still own a car, a DVD player have a Netflix subscription and smoke dope. We have some of the richest, well to do poor people in the world. Most people on Welfare only stay there for a year or two. Many people, including myself; have absolutely no problem helping someone who needs a helping hand. Especially if children are involved. But some people ARE lazy, lack motivation and are content to live a life of mediocrity and rely on the govt. to take care of them. They'll spend 10, 20, 30 years on welfare and make no effort to improve their situation. Those are the ones that irritate me and others.
A different approach: Why adults are embracing communal living by Sara Ashley O'Brien @saraashleyo November 4, 2016: 10:19 AM ET Inside WeLive's NYC apartments Angela Fox and her teenage son are voluntarily opting to share a home with 170 strangers. They've been residents at a coliving space called WeLive, in Arlington, Virginia, since April. "My world is about adventures," Fox, 48, told CNNMoney. When she and her son, Tatton, step outside the door of their "studio max" apartment, there's an entire community inside WeLive, owned by collaborative workspace behemoth WeWork. There's a communal kitchen, coffee bar, laundry room, TV area, yoga studio and even a mini-convenience store. Fox, who described herself as an introvert, said WeLive provides the best of both worlds. "I can close the door of our unit and hear nothing," said Fox, who is president of Crystal City Business Improvement District. "This works for me." Angela Fox and her son Tatton. Fox's apartment came fully furnished with everything from beds to linens and towels. She didn't have to worry about things like setting up an electricity account. She also had peace of mind when leaving her apartment unattended for two weeks this summer while on vacation. For her son, who is 13, the benefits include having surrogate siblings. "He's connected with the younger millennials in the building," she said. "Almost like they've adopted him as their little brother." A bedroom in WeLive. WeWork, a six-year-old startup, popularized coworking with its shared office spaces around the world. It's raised $1.7 billion and is valued at $16.9 billion. In April, it got into residential communities with two WeLive locations in Arlington and New York City. Apartments range from studios to three bedrooms, attracting a range of people... http://money.cnn.com/2016/11/04/technology/coliving-community-startups/
You seem rather obsessed with mundane things like heating costs. Perhaps this is the wrong site for you?